2006 Florida State Seminoles football team

Dubbed "Bowden Bowl VIII," Tommy Bowden's Clemson Tigers traveled to Doak Campbell Stadium for a pivotal ACC match-up with his father's Seminole team. Clemson had lost to ACC foe Boston College in overtime the week before, and was looking to reinsert themselves into the ACC Championship picture. Again, the Florida State offense struggled. The only points scored by the 'Noles in the first half of the game were scored by cornerback Tony Carter, who returned a blocked extra point for 2 points and a blocked field goal for a touchdown. With the game tied 20-20 late in the fourth quarter, Clemson switched to a no-huddle offense and running back James Davis gashed the unprepared Seminole defense for 47 yards, setting up a Clemson score with eight seconds left on the clock. Backup Seminole quarterback Xavier Lee entered the game and attempted a hail mary pass, but the ball was batted to the ground and Clemson left Tallahassee with a 27-20 win. It was the first time Clemson had won at Doak Campbell Stadium since 1989 and the third time Tommy Bowden had beaten his father since becoming Clemson's head coach in 1999.

Rice

Pregame Line: Florida State -17FSU had no problem dispatching of the winless Duke Blue Devils, and used the game to get their younger players valuable experience. The 'Noles struck first early when linebacker Lawrence Timmons returned a Duke fumble 37 yards for a touchdown. After beginning the game with six straight incompletions, QB Drew Weatherford had his most solid performance of the season, going 16/18 for the remainder of time he was in the game. Weatherford threw four touchdown passes (three to WR Greg Carr) and had no interceptions. Backup QB Xavier Lee entered the game in the second quarter but struggled, throwing three picks. For the second time in the 2006 season, the Seminoles blocked an opponent's extra point attempt and returned it for two points.

Florida State continued to be hit hard by injuries. Linebacker Geno Hayes went down with an apparent knee injury in the first quarter, making him the fifth FSU linebacker this season to suffer a serious injury. Later tests revealed that Hayes sprained his MCL, and his status for the Boston College game is unknown. In addition, tight end Brandon Warren suffered a hamstring pull in the second quarter and is doubtful to play this week.

Boston College

Pregame Line: Florida State -7Xavier Lee started for the second consecutive game, picking up his first win as a starter. Drew Weatherford played in the fourth quarter. Tony Carter's INT return for a TD was FSU's first since A.J. Nicholson accomplished the feat during last year's game against Boston College. This was FSU's first defensive shutout since blanking Notre Dame in South Bend, in 2003.

Wake Forest

Pregame Line: Florida State -8.5Florida State finished its regular season against archrival #4 Florida Gators. Florida took a 14-0 lead in the first half, but Florida State came back to tie the game at 14-14 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. Florida scored the final touchdown of the game a few minutes later to win 21-14. The Gators extended their winning streak over FSU to three games with just their second win at Doak Campbell Stadium in the past 20 years. FSU entered the game unranked after having its worst season since the early 1980s. Former Seminole great Ron Simmons gave LB Buster Davis permission to wear his retired #50 jersey for the game. [http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061120/FSU03/611200337/1002/SPORTS]

Emerald Bowl vs. UCLA

Florida State travelled to San Francisco, CA to take on and defeat (44-27) UCLA in the Emerald Bowl on December 27, 2006.cite web
url = http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/2006-11-26-fsu-bowl_x.htm
title = Florida State headed west for Emerald Bowl
accessdate = 2006-11-26
date = 2006-11-26
last = Corcoran
first = Jack
publisher = Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat]

Notes

External links

* [http://seminoles.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/fsu-m-footbl-body.html Official FSU Football Web Site]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/clubhouse?teamId=52 Florida State Football Clubhouse @ ESPN.com]